Stars Club News

August 28 - 30th Annual Club Summer Picnic and Star Party a Success
The Stars Club held its 30th Annual Summer Picnic and Star Party today. As it has been throughout its history, the picnic was held in Buckland, MA. The weather cooperated very nicely and everyone in attendance had a great time. As usual, the food was delicious. We were treated to a nice sunset followed by clear skies for observing. The Stars Club would like to thank all who helped make this year's picnic a success, especially Edie Gerry for once again hosting us.


Here comes the food! Dave Kelly carries the first of many delicious dishes




A fixture at the picnic each year, Dave Kelly works the grill




Joan Presz and John Kelly dig in




Our hostess Edie Gerry with club president Alan Rifkin




As darkness began to fall, the group gathered for a photo



August 23 - Return of Stars Over Springfield Among September Highlights
The new season of "Stars Over Springfield" is set to begin on September 3rd. Mike Kozicki will present, "Jupiter As You've Never Seen It Before," a look at a dramatic change in the giant planet's appearance earlier this year. Then, on September 28th, the Stars Club will kickoff its 77th year with a look back at the events that club members took part in during the summer. Relive Stellafane, the Conjunction, Arunah Hill Days and the Stars Club picnic. Both programs will begin at 7:30pm. The Science Museum charges $3 per adult and $2 per child for admission to "Stars Over Springfield." Stars Club meetings held at the Science Museum are open to the public free of charge and anyone with an interest in astronomy is invited to attend.

August 9 - Stars Club Members Attend Another Memorable Stellafane
Once again this year, members of the Stars Club made the trip to Springfield, VT for the Stellafane Convention, as they have been doing for decades. Held this past weekend, the 75th Stellafane was notable for clear weather, with views of the summer Milky Way and many Perseid meteors. Even if you missed Stellafane, there are still several summer astronomy events in the area scheduled for the upcoming weeks; please see the news item for July 31 below.


The Porter Turret Telescope and clubhouse on Breezy Hill late Saturday evening. Photo by Mike Kozicki.



July 31 - Stars Club Upcoming Summer Events Preview
The Stars Club will have a busy month of August, as its members will take part in several astronomy-related events. Although the club does not hold its own meetings during the summer, many members attend annual conventions that are held at this time of the year. These include Stellafane, the Conjunction and Arunah Hill Days. Additionally, the Stars Club will again take part in Tangelwood on Parade, to be held on Tuesday, August 3. The next "Stars Over Springfield" program at the Springfield Science Museum, the first of the club's new season, will be held on Friday, September 3. Monthly club meetings will resume at the Springfield Science Museum on Tuesday, September 28, as the Stars Club begins its 77th year. Upcoming events, in chronological order, are listed below:

Tuesday, August 3 - Tanglewood on Parade
Thursday-Sunday, August 5-8 - Stellafane
Friday-Saturday, August 20-21 - The Conjunction
Saturday, August 28 - Stars Club Summer Picnic and Star Party
Friday, September 3 - "Stars Over Springfield"
Friday-Monday, September 3-6 - Arunah Hill Days
Tuesday, September 28 - Stars Club Meeting


The Porter Turret Telescope (foreground) with the famous pink clubhouse on Breezy Hill at Stellafane in Springfield, VT




Jack Megas interviews author and Sky & Telescope columnist Sue French at the 2006 Conjunction




Arunah Hill president Ed Faits invites you to Arunah Hill Days, to be held during Labor Day weekend, September 3-6



April 15 - Gerald "Gerry" Atkinson (1927-2010)
The Stars Club has received the sad news of the recent passing of longtime member Gerry Atkinson of West Springfield. A 1945 graduate of West Springfield High School, Gerry served in the United States Navy before attending Worcester Polytechnic Institute and later, Harvard University. He briefly taught high school physics in Weston, MA for two years, before becoming an electrical engineer for Pratt & Whitney, where he would work until his retirement in 1989. Gerry was an avid solar observer and kept detailed records of his observations of the Sun. He served as a member of the Stars Club's board of directors for many years and was the keeper of "a fine four-inch Unitron refractor," (as he described it at club meetings) which the club loaned out to members. For his outstanding contributions to astronomy, the Stars Club presented Gerry with the 1996 Korkosz Award. Gerry always had a smile on his face and will be missed by the many friends he made over the years.


Longtime Stars Club member Gerry Atkinson, smiling as he always did, in an undated photo



January 8 - Stars Club Kicks Off 2010 with "Stars Over Springfield"
The Stars Club and the Springfield Science Museum held the January "Stars Over Springfield" program tonight. It was the club's first event of the new year and despite cloudy skies about thirty people attended. Paul Cardone presented "Spaceflight During the First Decade of the Twenty-first Century," a look back at some of the highlights of the last decade. Afterwards, visitors gathered in the Seymour Planetarium for a program by Jack Megas, and the evening concluded in the Science Museum's rooftop observatory where Mike Kozicki talked about the history of the twenty-inch telescope. The next "Stars Over Springfield" program will be held on Friday, February 5th. Tonight's event also marked the club's temporary return to the Tolman Auditorium, which has been undergoing renovations to make it part of Dinosaur Hall.


Visitors gather in the Tolman Auditorium for the program




Paul Cardone talks about spaceflight during the first decade of the twenty-first century




Paul shows one of the photos in his presentation



December 23 - NOTE: Special Date for January "Stars Over Springfield"
The January "Stars Over Springfield" will be held on the second Friday of the month, January 8, 2010, rather than the first Friday of the month due to a conflict with New Year's Day.

December 5 - NOTE: Special Location for December Club Meeting
The December meeting of the Stars Club will NOT be held at the Springfield Science Museum. THe meeting will take place on its regular date, December 22nd, at the Lido Ristorante, 555 Worthington Street in Springfield, beginning at 6:30pm. All members are encouraged to give a brief, ten-minute presentation on a topic related to astronomy. Regular meetings at the Science Museum will resume in January.

December 4 - Final "Stars Over Springfield"of 2009 Tonight
The final "Stars Over Springfield" of 2009 will be held this evening. Former club preseident Jack Megas will speak, followed by observations of Jupiter if skies are clear. The next "Stars Over Springfield" will be held on January 8, 2010.

November 17 - Stars Club Holds 75th Anniversary Dinner
The Stars Club held its 75th anniversary dinner at the Student Prince in Springfield this evening. The event marked the end of a year-long celebration of the club's history. At the dinner club president Alan Rifkin unveiled a proclamation by the Massachusetts House of Representatives congratulating the Stars Club on reaching the milestone.


Members of the Stars Club dine at the Student Prince




Three past Stars Club presidents - from left, Dave Gallup, Mike Lieb and Jack Megas




Members enjoying the evening




The entire group gathered together after dinner




Club president Alan Rifkin holds a proclamation by the Massachusetts House of Representatives recognizing the occasion of the club's 75th anniversary
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